Sikiliza

I plea for peace for Kenya in the only way I know how...I appeal to you all with gentle words...let us not resolve our differences with violence.... For my friends who are laying their lives on the line for the love of our country I commend you... For the casualties of these elections I pray for your families…May your souls rest in eternal peace...martyrs of democracy... To my neighbors and friends let us put aside this tribal hatred and remind ourselves of this nation we struggled so hard to build... And for my friends out there and friends of Kenya...we appreciate your thoughts during this trying time.... Najivunia Kuwa Mkenya....I am proud of being a Kenyan ~Sikiliza~ " Listen "

My Wonderful Kenyans......... In this important period of exercising our democratic right at the polls...and as we await the results.. I appeal to you all to please be calm and peaceful... Let us not raise a hand to another brother, create and cause havoc... I appeal for you to await a new Kenya... ~Siki~

Wakenya nawaomba tia maanani ujumbe wa amani Epukana na siasa za peni mbili, wacha wizi…. wacha vita Tunapoilaki mwaka mpya, tujipe moyo kwa yaliyopangiwa siku zijazo Nawatakia sikukuu njema yaliyojazwa na fanaka na baraka chungu nzima…

Each time you put me down Each time you hurt me Each time you salt my wounds You’re only proving to me and the world how strong I am Strength is tested in difficulty and the harder you make life for me The greater I get…. I will grow to dizzying heights My light will shine so bright It will burn your eyes So three cheers to you who by hurting me make me soar to heights No one could fathom I would ever reach I will be a legend that you will want to remember to forget… And, I am here to stay…

I love Mondays…… I have to tell you how I acquired some two new best friends.... CID officers in Nairobi Central Police Station. This all happened on Monday so I just want to reiterate the fact that Mondays are in fact my favorite day of the week…..A feat that I realize is unique to me…but then again, I am Sikiliza and have been known to have macabre and weird tendencies… It all started when I was stopped dramatically (with sting-operation-like qualities) in the streets of Nairobi on Monday morning and suspected of being a car thief…err yes I know how silly it sounds…Sikiliza a supposed car thief. For those who know and love me and haven’t fallen off their chairs laughing perhaps would recall that I am a certified pedestrian. Not so much because I cant afford to own my dream car…but also because I have never thought of a vehicle an asset (unless I want a ride, but I can count on matatus, cabs or friend’s cars for that) I would much rather buy land or a house frank...

My brother and I crashed a party once in the mid nineties going on at some poshish 5-star hotel poolside in the city. As soon as we got there we saw a bride and groom a bridal party and immediately warmed up to it and immediately felt right at home like we were meant to be there. Wedding receptions are such nice parties to crash because you can pretend to know at least one of the people getting hitched. We notice lots of disapproving stares but our stuff-you attitude got us by…Besides we figured that the only possible reason for the stares was the fact that we were very casually dressed...and that is a real understatement! So the extroverts we were, we decided to give the bride and the groom compliments, hugs and kisses…wishing them the best in their new life. Everyone seemed flustered by the move including the bride and groom who had their jaws open. It did not bother us so much then and immediately proceeded to help ourselves (quite generously I might add) to the well spread food pla...

Pillow fights – those were the only legal fights allowed in the house. We'd send missiles across the living room ducking behind the chairs as the pillows scuttled across the room leaving trails of feather stuffing. It was a delightful game of war me, my brother and sister played staging ourselves on different corners of the sitting room. I was the youngest….the baby sister (kid sister sometimes) at first there was threat that I would win the game because I was the only left handed in the family (and apparently we aim good) but honestly I sucked that the game. My head always popped up from behind the sofa in time to get a pillow hit me square on the face. Usually, the trophy for this game was loads of laughs and teases from the winners to the looser (in this case the one who got hit more) – most of the time I was a sore looser and tears would spring up as soon as the poking fun began and I would run to mama and tell on them. Sometimes to really piss them off I would tell our oldest ...

Never run along corridors. This is a lesson I learnt rather painfully when I was about 10 years old. I ignored my parent's pleas not to run and jump off chairs and doing tumble turns on the carpets….and I was actually quite good at it… They'd go "Don't do this don't do that!" "Act like a lady!"…or "that's going to end up in tears and don't come crying to me when you hurt yourself!" It was like a song. But, I had speed and I was young I felt indestructible. The last thing I needed was someone telling me what I shouldn't be doing…. So one wettish evening we were holed up in the house horribly bored. The rain messed up our play time outside so we were all bursting with hyperactive energy….my mum called out to me while I was in the kitchen making mischief. I shouted back "Cooooming" and promptly zoomed off towards her bedroom. Then she called out again and this time I realized that she was in fact not in her room but my br...

Nilipokutazama ukitabasamu niliduwaa Mapenzi tele rohoni Ah! Lo kipigo moyoni yanitoa jasho konde mie yupi huyu aliyeniduwaa?? Usiku kucha si lali Sili wala siwezi Kukana jinsi ninavyo hisi Na tamani kukupapasa Labda pia kukubusu Ah! Lo kipigo moyoni yanitoa jasho konde mie yupi huyu aliyeniduwaa?

My mother had lots and lots of gardens at the house we grew up in. Among others, there was a special rose garden that we were banned from since we always stomped our way through causing havoc, picking out all the flowers. Also, the thorns sucked so we were happy to settle for admiring them through the dining room windows while having breakfast each morning before school. She also had these amazing rock gardens which we invaded. They were great for playing in ….there was also a brilliant Nandi Flame tree that had awesome flowers and dropped these amazing orange seeds we collected for absolutely no reason at all…. the pepper trees were great but one always ran the risk of a fat hairy caterpillar falling plop on your head(depends on how bad one wanted to swing really) and the avocado tree which we climbed up to spy on the neighbor's kids (this was before we discovered MONEY and that we could harvest and sell the avocado's at the market but that is another story). Waaaaay before I ...

I recall brief moments of panic when my mother remembered half way through her shoping that she left the car unlocked when we parked in the streets of Nakuru. Mad rush paying getting change of mostly a penny or shilling because everything in Nakuru cost something-and-90 cents or something-and-9 shillings at the end to give you some (very) false impression of a discount. Reaching the car poking her head in and looking around shiftily the hawkers and or idlers around reaffirm her, "Mama tulikuangalilia gari." Nothing was pinched thank fully. She promptly tipped them (this is where this parking attendants/ chokoras aka Choko's now in all towns and cities spewed from)…. Needless to say it didn't really matter if you locked the car or not…most times nobody would take anything…And the pickpockets knew you by name and always said hi..they really just targeted  gullible newbies or tourists who just begged to be robbed flashing hundreds of dollars infront of  their eyes... I ...

I am having a great time going through the motions of exercising my democratic right on the 27th of December at the General Elections...the churning's and endless rantings of the wanna-be states-men are at a titillating frenzy... I believe that if I told one of the candidates during a campaign trail to stand on one leg, hop and pull his ear he just might consider it... I am happiest at this time when Kenyans realize just how important their vote is...and just how powerful they actually are when all the sycophantic and pretentious candidates go on their knees to beg...I wish though, Kenyans would realize that they have this power throughout their lives as their approval or disapproval on state issues is the key to the direction we take as nation... I'd say, tone down the drama, learn the policies proposed, make an informed choice and cast your vote holding ransom the succeeding candidate to quit the blame game and fold up their shirts and work diligently with some amount of...

And so I didnt sulk on last Friday at home and decided to go watch the alluring Mbilia Bel... Its official that I have an infatuation on her Share the images.... ~Siki~

Kwa Marafiki Wangu... Asante kwa kuvumilia mambo yangu...asante kwa kunipa moyo nikijazwa namawazo chungu nzima. Wajua jinsi ya kunituliza,kunipenda na kunipa uhuru ya kukuelezea yaliomo moyoni...hata kama siyo mambo ya maana..... Shukran kwa utulivu ambaye unaye wakati kila kitu insambaratikia...na hiyo ujasiri yako wakati giza imenizingiria na ni mejazwa na uwoga... Asante kwa kunishika na kunibusu..kunipa nafasi ya kutulia wakati shida na machozi yamenijaa Mola awe nawe...akupe amani na baraka chungu nzima... ~Siki~

Its Friday, am lonely and I am pining for some attention. But knowing that history repeats itself I am probably going to spend it alone indoors reading a book, baby sitting or watching TV. Don’t get me wrong I love my own company …but I have my moments where I wish I could stop in the streets and ask for a hug….hahaha As I was walking down the safe (ok safe-ish) streets of down town Nairobi the other day….I came across an old cop friend …I had forgotten all about him when I mentioned the Kenyan and Senegalese cop comparisons…hahaha I mean he is a gorgeous 6 and a half footer toothy grinned cop who arrests who firmly but politely…he is honest and helpful but you wont want to mess with him. When I see him I am usually in awe...mixed with some kind fear, a very strange mix. Anywayyyyyyyyy my point was….if all Kenyan cops were like him then we would be in a much happier place…and let me hope this cop issue of mine does not develop to an obsessive thing… I am back in the city with a myr...

So day after day the fisherman load up and leave hoping that the day's catch will build him a fortune of sorts...... It must take so much optimism to be up at 3am. and sit and wait for the fish to swim by and bite the bait or get trapped in the nets...come rain, sunshine, a green moon, hormonal mood swings, sickness, laziness these guys go out each day no matter what. There are no traffic jams to cover up your lateness...I am not sure what they do when they have a tummy upsets out there...Pee breaks I can imagine (but may not want to for purposes of keeping my appetite for lunch).... This kind of seeming unending strength and commitment is something I admire...People who take very seriously what they do...whether they are in a lowly or a grand a day kind of job… But you know sometimes I wonder… My dad did this for 40 years at the expense of family coziness in the evening to make sure he got our bills paid, food on the table and a decent education for which I am wholly ...

Sea Shore of Almadies - Dakar, Senegal

In the sticky matters of the heart...and those horrible vague feelings that come with it that people call love...All you really need is to hope against hope is that fate fixes you up with someone who.............. You are really keen on Understands your jokes Reaches out to hold your hand in public without shyness or shame Has a picture of you in his wallet Knows how to make you feel guilty when you're wrong (or right?) Is less lazier than you Can brew good tea Makes you feel rather important Wakes up with you by his side Wakes up with you in his mind when you're not by his side Loves you no matter what Always takes your side with others whether your right or wrong Is not confused about what he feels for his ex's Is not married to someone else (You're not married to someone else!!!!) Still thinks your beautiful than the women around you Or is at least subtle about the fact that he finds your sisters, friends and neighbours much prettier than you… Has the...

A pink and lilac flower... Lets study then and see which is BRIGHTER (pun intended) ... ~Siki~

What would the colour of my skin have to do with my intelligence (or lack of it..) ~Siki~ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=488232&in_page_id=1770

Dear People and Martians.. Today I heard the most ridiculous thing from a friend....all of us being broke at the moment …were talking and wallowing in the yucky state...I absolutely abhor the state and this twit said to me its better to be poor but happy... I respectfully disagree….am horrified at the thought that I can fathom any form of happiness when my bank account is dwindling...and I cant put food on the table...the thought makes me break into a cold sweat wake up at night and get sick with worry…. Maybe we need to readjust the notion that money isn't everything...the fact is at this time and point MONEY IS EVERYTHING... Money is food on the table, money is decent housing and decent health care, education, peace, fuel, gas and err... yes...love...happiness and all these other flighty but useful things…. You can't eat love... You can't pay bills with happiness.. That's a fact… I think we should quit being complacent with our status in this sordid world and wor...

Do you sometimes wish that a hand, warm and pleasant, caressed your face traced your lips and lingered on your chin... Do you at times crave to hear a husky whisper on your ear lightly saying sweet nothings that make you smile and giggle? Do you long for foot rubs, hugs, kisses, hand shakes that linger for a second more, licks..sucks... I am hankering for some attention; it reminds me I am still human.... ~Siki~

I am just back from a trip from the big bad (good?) city called Nairobi...am all wide eyed, jaw-on-the-floor and that kind of thing….the improvements since I last went there are amazing... Guess what...motorists are stopping at zebra crossings...the streets are swept clean every morning, the street lights are working...no runny-nosed street kids high on something begging and harassing on the streets...no hawkers on the footpath pissed if you accidentally step on her tomatoes...WOOOOOOOOOOW.... But as I got back home and smelt the nice clean air and non-significant traffic....cheap cabs and every two people greeting me in my hometown...my heartstrings get pulled and I am drawn to the small town coziness I was born and brought up in...Home sweet home… ~Siki~

I will not pretend that each time I see women with lovely hair and skin I get a little awed.....Like a pretty flower I can never resist to stop and gaze….and if they smile back maybe ask for a picture...... Aren't they adorable.... Behold... ~Siki~

DSC01124 Originally uploaded by sikiliza Show me the beauty of your soul.... Tell me; is there more to you than meets the eye? Hold my hand and let me feel the warmth of your life coursing through your veins... Don’t hide your smile let me see your eyes light up ~Siki~